1996 First Edition Soft Cover Fine 8vo. Xiv + 207pp. A Clean And Tight Copy That Looks Unread. Gift Quality. Examines and categorizes more than 1500 cliches, using her own classification system. Arranging entries alphabetically, she moves from "absence makes the heart grow fonder" to "zero hour." Kirkpatrick offers an explanation of each cliche"s meaning, uses it in a sentence, places it in historical context, and explains who is most likely to use it (e.g., the young or the old, doctors or sports announcers). Thus, the reader can learn that "every effort is being made" is a hackneyed phrase most often used by officials to "reassure people who fear that very little is being done" and that it originated in the 20th century. An interesting introduction exploring the idea of the cliche and how it has been treated over time adds a touch of scholarship to this general-reader dictionary.